The evenstar. Same thing that....

[elven maiden Earwen]

At the end of ROTK Arwen gives Frodo a necklace. This is his tricket to Aman. This was discribed as a white gem. OK.

I always thought that it was the Evenstar that she gave Frodo. If not then what was it?
Sorry if there is a topic already like this, because i tried the search engine and nothing came up. if there is a thread already like this plaese give me a link to it. Thank you.

[ February 19, 2003: Message edited by: elven maiden Earwen ]

[Finwen]

I don't know whether the stone given to Frodo by Arwen actually had a specific name, although maybe we're directed to think that it *is* the Evenstar, because when she gifts it to Frodo, Arwen says:

... But wear this now in memory of Elfstone and Evenstar with whom your life has been woven!

And the stone itself is described as:

... a white gem like a star...

And, of course, Aragorn has his Elessar (Elfstone) given to him by Galadriel, and he then takes this as his name, so maybe we are supposed to think that the gem is the Evenstar, linked with the name of Arwen herself. But to my knowledge, it's never mentioned as such. (But hey, what do I know? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] )

[DaughterofVana]

I don't think Arwen HAD the actual EVENSTAR around her neck. *She* was the Evenstar (Undomiel), not her necklace. Without getting all symbolic about the trinket's purpose in the book ("Ticket to Aman" and so forth) I believe it was just a regular necklace with a diamond or a white gem on it. Usually objects are named after people, not people after objects, though perhaps if that necklace had some sort of significance in ancient ME (like a heirloom passed on from mother to daughter) then it would be feasible that she would be named after it. I don't believe that is the case--if anything, it was named "the evenstar" after her, if it was named anything at all (the book doesn't say, at least in that passage).

As to the origin of Arwen's surname, I believe that she was named "Evenstar" because she was the last elven maiden to possess the beauty of her ancestors. More specifically, Galadriel was the "star of the Morning" (sayeth Éomer to Gimli, on being divided in tastes); a venerable lady from an old, old house, crowned with a radiant garland. Of Luthien, a legendary Elven maiden, Arwen was to have been her "likeness come again," possessing if not all then most of her beauty. And since Luthien is said to be one of the most beautiful and substantial elven figures in ME, that's a pretty hefty title.

All in all, I guess you can say this: The evenstar is NOT the Evenstar, the Evenstar *named* the evenstar. I think.

-'Vana

Edited for clarification. I hope it helped.

[ February 20, 2003: Message edited by: DaughterofVana ]